Keep in mind these Bristol Ridge chips are still based around the same Excavator CPU cores and GCN graphics architecture as the previous-generation APUs. Shoppers looking for APUs with Zen CPU cores and Vega's NCU graphics architecture will have to wait until the release of Raven Ridge late this year or early 2018.

The big news for the latest round of APUs is support for dual-channel DDR4 memory. Given that past AMD APUs have responded quite favorably to increases in memory bandwidth when gaming, we expect that the new silicon should outperform the older generation, particularly when paired with the fastest compatible DDR4 memory modules. We've prepared this handy table for you.

These Bristol Ridge chips offer a way for buyers without the scratch for both a new CPU and graphics card to get onto the AM4 platform. A builder could purchase a $70 A8-9600 and a modestly-priced B350 motherboard and use them until they save up funds for a shiny video card and an Editor's Choice Award-winning Ryzen 5 1600 CPU. The inflated prices in the mid-range graphics card market right now might support this inchwise approach. Builders who aren't as constrained might want to wait to see what Raven Ridge has to offer.